Martin Knecht
Any person who will investigate the facts in the case will be surprised to learn of the great number of people of Germanic nativity and descent now living in the United States. Unquestionably the greatest number of emigrants coming to this country within the past century have come from that nation, and statistics will show that there is more Germanic blood in the United States than any other with the exception of English. This being a fact it is easy to account for the prosperity and morality of our country, as well as the love of learning shown by the people of this vast nation. Germany is famous the world over for its remarkable universities, for its educated men, for its poets and philosophers, and for the industry, peace, intelligence and sturdiness of its citizens. These qualities have been brought to this country by the emigrants and are now part and parcel of our wonderful nation. While the 1910 census shows that there are only forty-eight people living in Fayyette county, Ohio, who were born in Gernany, yet the number of those who are descended from German parentage number hundreds. One of the prosperous farmers of Jefferson township, who is of German descent, is Martin Knecht, who is the proprietor of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land in that township near the Fayette county line.
Martin Knecht, the son of Jacob and Catherine (Griesheimer) Knecht, was born December 4, 1861, in Chillicothe, Ohio. His parents were natives of Germany and married in that country before ocating in America. Upon coming to this country Jacob Knecht and his wife located in Chillicothe, where he engaged in agriculture and operated a brewery. Five children were born to Jacob Knecht and wife, Jacob, Christine, Catherine, John and Martin. Jacob and Christine were born in Germany and the others in Ross county, this state. All of these children are still living with the exception of Catherine and Jacob.
The education of Martin Knecht was received in the schools of Ross county, Ohio. As a young man he worked in his father's brewery and at the age of thirty began to farm in Ross county. He continued to reside there until 1910, when he sold his farm and purchased his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres along the Fayette-Ross county line. He is classed among the progressive farmers of the township, and although he has been a resident of this county but a few years, yet he has already demonstrated his ability along agricultural lines. Mr. Knecht built his present splendid residence, of cement blocks, which is conveniently arranged and considered one of the best homes in the township.
Mr. Knecht was married to Elizabeth Uhrig, and to this union have been born six children, Martin, Effie, Edna, Clarence, Ollie and Mary. Martin married Irene Milligan and has two children. George and Irene; Effie is the wife of Elmer C. Milligan. and has two children, Joseph and Mabel: Edna became the wife of Charles Hirsch. and is the mother of five children, Louisa, Catherine, Helen, George and Mary. Tlie other three children are still unmarried and make their home with their parents.
Mr. Knecht has given his undivided support to the Democratic party, but owing to his extensive agricultural interests he has never been inclined to be active in political matters. Nevertheless, he stands for good government and throws his influence in favor of all measures for the public good.. Socially, he is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Knecht is a man of jovial and genial disposition and has made a host of friends since locating in this county.
Mrs. Knecht is a daughter of John and Mary (Wilhelm) Uhrig, the former born in Germany in 1833, and the latter in Ross county, Ohio, in 1842. Mr. Uhrig farmed all his life in Ross county, where both lived, died and are buried. He was a Democrat in politics and they were Protestant in religion.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)